Automatic load lock



May 23, 1939.

H. B. BRYS'ON AUTOMATIC LOAD Loox Fiied sept.- 2 7, 1935 2 sheets-sneu 1 /A/ VE/v ro 1, /y/S/e Y 5. 5A? Y6 o/V l@ 5f WQWW May 23, 1939. H, B. BRYsoN AUTOMATIC lLOAD LOCK Filed Sept. 2'?, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC LOAD LOCK Application September 27, 1935, Serial No. 42,467

10 Claims.

My invention, which I term an automatic load lock, relates to a device for applying power, either manually or mechanically, to a rotary member that is disposed within a suitable housing,

through which passes a rigid member to which the power applied to the rotary member is communicated, thereby causing the rigid member to move forward or backward as desired, through said housing, when the latter and the rotary member are anchored in a stationary position; or, whenfsaid rigid member is anchored in a stationary position, the applied power will cause the housing and the rotary member contained therein to travel along said rigid member, so long as 15 the power is applied; and, when such power ceases to be applied, the mechanism becomes static automatically and instantly, and locked.

When the applied power is removed, the weight of the movable member is instantly applied to a point or points of lockage, whichis provided by the peripheral contact of the edge of the rotary disc with its housing, as hereinafter more fully described and shown.

In my improved load lock, the power to effect relative movement between the parts is applied rotatively, and when movement ceases, the parts are instantly, peripherally locked.

My invention provides a device that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufac- `15,0 ture, comprising a minimum number of operating parts, and entirely automatic in its lockage function; which is adaptable for a wide variety of uses, for instance, for the convenient and facile raising and lowering of the seats of stationary and revolving chairs and stools; for raising and lowering of the working platform of builders scaffolds; for the operation of cars on cogged or inclined railways; to the so-caled monkey", Stillson, and other wrenches; to door, night, and

'.10 other locks; to the operation of ordinary and casement windows sash; for the operation of automobile window and door panels; to doors af al1 kinds; for the operation of steeling mechanisms; for the raising and lowering of ear-phones i5 on radio receiver headsets; for the raising and to employ a shaft mounted for rotation in suitable journal boxes or bearings, and said shaft carrying a pulley or belt wheel, a cog wheel, a sprocket wheel or other means of transmitting motion and power, and such arrangement pro- 5y vides a definite and fixed center of rotation for the shaft or journal within its stationary bearing.

My invention, as herein set forth, involves and provides a reversal of the above-mentioned practice, in that it provides means of applying power l0 directly to one side, face or end of a thin crosssection or partial sector, or any desired length of a power shaft, either manually or otherwise, and the transmission of said power to a movable member which may be either straight, curved, rigid 15 or flexible.

'I'he transmission of motion and power in my improved device is accomplished by means of a concentric section'of the power shaft or journal as it is rotated in its box or bearing, and which section of the power shaft is relatively small as compared to the entire area of the face of the complete cross-'section or partial sector or the end of the length of the shaft used in any given construction.

My improved device utilized the peripheral fixed and definite rotatability of the power shaft or journal, as such within its bearing, plus certain means added to the bearing or housing for the purpose of retaining the rotatable part of the ,30 power shaft within said bearing or housing, and the cooperating parts providing means of automatically, instantly and positively locking the mechanism and the load to which power has been applied while operating, when the power ceases 135 to be applied either intentionally or accidentally.

My invention is characterized by a rotary motion-imparting member that is mounted within a continuous bearing or a plurality of spaced bearings with which the periphery of the rotat- '40 ing member or disc is constantly in engagement so that said rotary member has a definite axis of rotation. In other words, the rotary member always rotates on the same axis, as distinguished from a rotary member having a floating or vari- 5 able axis.

My new principle and method of applying power directly to a power shaft and of transferring or communicating said power to a member that is to be moved, or which is to carry loads, or to accomplish work, and for securely locking the moving and moved parts, when the application of power ceases, is accomplished by means hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an outside elevational view of a bar shifting and securing device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an inside elevational view of that part of the housing having its flange slotted for the reception of the bar or other member, and the side wall of which housing part is perforated at the center for the admission of the shaft of a rotating member.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the housing and the operating parts lodged therein,-the latter being shown in elevational edge view.

Fig. 4 is an elevational View, partly in section, of the rotary member, and its integral or integrated parts, which is lodged in a housing and which is designed to transmit motion to its ccoperating member and for automatically, instantly, and positively locking the mechanism when power ceases to'be applied.

Fig. 5 is an inside elevational view showing an entirely new, and never before conceived, designed, or used, method of transmitting motion from one member to another; and for automatically, instantly, and positively locking the mechanism, when power ceases to be applied.

Fig. 6 is an inside elevational view of my invention showing how the conventional rack and pinion may be used as an alternative method of transmitting motion from one member to another; and also for automatically, instantly, and positively locking the mechanism when power ceases to be applied.

Fig. 7 is an'elevational view, partly in section, of the rotary member and its integral or integrated parts, when same is designated to be used in connection with the conventional gear-rack.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and showing a modified construction wherein the friction disc carrying shaft extends through the housing and showing the motion transmitting means on the outside of the housing.

Figs. 9 to 15 inclusive are elevational views partly in section showing housings of different shaped, each having a plurality of spaced bearings or supports for the rotary disc.

Fig. 16 is a vertical section taken on the line IIS- I6 of Fig. 10 and showing the periphery of the rotating disc having continuous bearing on the housing within which said disc is positioned.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 16 and showing the periphery of the rotary disc on the pins or bolts that retain the parts of the housing in assembled relation.

Fig. 18 is a horizontal section showing my improved load lock utilized for the operation and locking of Window-sash.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line III-I9 of Fig. 18.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, IG designates a housing which may be of any suitable size and shape; and said housing being preferably formed in two parts capable of being readily separated and connected by any suitable mechanical means.

` As illustrated in Fig. 2, the housing may include one part having a marginal flange II, the outer portion of which is externally threaded for the reception of internally threaded flange on the other part.

the rod I3, or other member, that is to be shifted lengthwise, and positively held after such movement.

In the illustrations, I have shown the exterior surfaces of the housing of my invention as being planar laterally, and circular as to the periphery of these lateral surfaces; but the external surfaces may be of any desired shape or contour. The interior of the housing, I have also shown as planar laterally, and circular as to the short wall or flange Ii, in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6, rising at right angle to said inner sides of the housing; but these interior side-walls, while preferably planar, may be variable as to surface contour. 'Ihe flange I I, Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6, shown circular in form, may be triangular, quadrangular, or multiangular, arising from sidewalls similarly shaped as to their peripheral limits as illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14; or, for such continuous flange, may be substituted a series of bolts, arranged to contact the circular edge of the rotary member, Figs. 4, 5, 6, and '7, said bolts also serving to x the two parts of the housing together as shown in Figs. 1l and 15.

Lodged or placed within this housing is the circular member or disc I8, with its integral or integrated parts, the shaft I6 and the pins IS; or, the pinion 2Q, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. And, also lodged within this housing, and passable forward and backward therethrough, is the specially cogged-bar I3, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5; or, the conventional gear-rack I3, shown in Fig. 6.

Formed in the center of the side wall of that part of the housing which is slotted in flanges I I,

for the member I 3, is an aperture I5, and passing therethrough is a shaft It, of any desired length, on the outer end of which is mounted an operating member, a knob I'I, as illustrated in Fig. 3, or, a crank, for the manual application of power. If mechanical power is to be applied to the shaft I5, any suitable means of connecting it to shaft I may be applied. The diameter of the aperture I5 is greater than the diameter of the shaft I6, just enough so that there is, or may be, no contact between the aperture I5 and the shaft I6.

Formed integral with, or rigidly secured to shaft I6, is a disc I3, the peripheral edge of which bears just easily rotatably against the inner face of the flange II of the housing. Although the face of the rotary disc I8 does frictionally engage the inner face of the side-wall of that part of the housing containing the aperture I5, in practice such frictional engagement will be reduced to a minimum, or as much as desired, by any desired mechanical construction, or means, so as to retard, as little as desired, the free rotation of the disc I 8 within its housing when the shaft I5 and its integrated parts, is rotated.

By means of the rotary disc I8, and its integral or integrated parts, and the specially cogged rack I3, as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, I am describing my own, rnew and which I claim to be my own, and never before conceived, designed and used, means of transmitting power from a rotary mem.- ber to a traveling, or a driven linear or regularly curved member, as follows.

I provide, as integral or integrated parts of the rotaryv disc I8, within or without the housing, three or more pins I9 extended or projected at right angles, or perpendicular, to that face of the rotary disc I8, which is opposite to the shaft IS, and arranged or fixed radially, concentrically, and equi-angularly around the geometrical center of the disc I8, as illustrated in Fig. 5, which is a face view, and in Fig. 4, which is an edge! view of the disc I8, when the said pins are used as the means of transmitting power from the member I8 to the member I3.

If desired the shaft operating means may be arranged on the same side of the disc I8 with the pins 20.

When the rotating member I8 is constructed or provided with the said pins, as illustrated and described, the traveling or driven member I3 will be a straight line, or an arc bar, on one edge of which is a rack of suitably spaced, and preferably perpendicularly faced teeth or cogs, with suitable sized and preferably flat-bottom slots, alternating with the teeth or cogs, so that when the disc I8l is rotated one of the said pins will fall into or engage one of the slots in the member I3, and so on in regular sequences, causing continuous motion of the member I3, forward or backward, as desired, so long as member I3 is rotated.'

Ink practice, the housing I is suitably secured to a support in position so that the member I3, to be moved, may pass in either direction through the openings I2, with the cogs I4 of said member in engagement with the pins of member I3; or, member I3 may be made stationary, in which case the housing will travel thereon.

To move member I3 in either direction, the knob I6, or any mechanical equivalent, is secured to shaft I 6, and is either manually or mechanically manipulated, so as to rotate shaft I6, and its integral or integrated parts, either forward or backward; and the engagement of the pins of the rotary disc I8 with the cogs I4 of member I3, will impart movement to the latter, and thereby move whatever load it may be desired to move,

when member I3 is attached to the load, such as a transom, or the head and back section of a hospital bed.

After theV rod or rack-bar, or vice versa, after the housing and its contained mechanism, has been moved to the desired position, it will remain in such Vposition regardless of the amount of pressure that is applied to said rack-bar, or vice versa, to the housing, by reason of the fact that any lengthwise strains or stresses applied to the rack-bar or vice versa to the housing, will be transmitted to the pinion I9 and disc I8, with the result that a portion of the periphery of disc I8 will be pressed against the inner face of flange II, thus providing an effective pressure brake, which will automatically, instantly, and positively hold said disc ragainst rotation; and, consequently, holding pinion I9 against rotary movement that would otherwise be transmitted to the rod or rack-bar I3.

This sliding movement of the shaft I6, pinion I9, and disc I8, is permitted by reason of the fact that aperture I5, throughwhich shaft I6 passes, is larger in diameter than said shaft.v

As an equivalent alternative or substitute for my new rack and pin mechanism, above described, and illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, I am also illustrating and describing by Figs. 6 and 7,

`how the conventional gear-rack and pinion may be used'as a means of transmitting power from a rotary member to a. linear, or arc traveling or driven member; and for the automatic, instant, and positive locking of the mechanism in any desired or accidental position. When the conventional rack and pinion are used as the trans- 'mission means in my invention, conventional pinion 20, shown in Figs. 6 and 7, take the place of the pins I9, in Figs. 4 and 5; and the conventional gear-rack I3, shown in Fig. 6 takes the place of the specially cogged rack I3, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5; and when this is done, the entire mechanism of my automatic load lock will function, in every way, identically and as effectively as I have described in connection with my pin and rack mechanism, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Obviously any suitable and practical transmitting or driving engagement between the rotary element and its cooperating or driven member may be provided as substitutes for the pin and rack, or for the rack and pinion elements already described and illustrated.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated a modied construction wherein shaft IG" that carries friction disc I 8, extends through apertures in both side walls of the housing I0, which apertures are slightly larger in diameter than said shaft; and shaft IIiEL may carry on the outside of the housing, a pinion 25 that engages the teeth of a rack bar 26.

This rack bar 26 may be arranged for sliding movement in suitable guides or hearings 26a that are arranged on the exterior of housing I0.

On the other side of housing I0, shaft IIa may be provided with a crank 21 for the reception of a pitman or the like.

Obviously shaft I6 may be of any desired length and equipped with any one of the power transmitting devices, including the disc I8 and members associated therewith.

To achieve the desired result of locking the movable member of my improved device, the rotary element, either the series of pins I9 or the pinion 20, should be very much smaller in diameter than the disc I 8.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a housing Illa substantially triangular in form and with the rotary member I8a having three points of contact or bearing with the inner face of the housing.

In Fig. 10 the housing Ib is shown square in shape and the rotary member |85 has four points of contact or bearing behind the inner face of the wall of said housing.

In Fig. 11 the housing Illc is formed slightly larger than the rotary member I8c and the latter has four points of contact or bearing with the four pins or bolts I 8m that hold the parts of the housing in assembled relation.

In Fig. 12 the housing I 0d is shown quintangular in form, thereby providing lve bearings or points of support for the enclosed'rotary member I 8d.

In Fig. 13 the housing I0d is shown sixtangular in shape, thus providing six bearings or points gf su'iport for the enclosed disc or rotary memer e.

In Fig. 14 the housing IIIf is shown as provided y of bearings or points of support for the rotary member. |89.

In Figs. 18 and 19 I have shown my improved load lock associated with a window for the purpose of raising and lowering the Window-sash and locking the same after movement. In this construction the housing I I) that encloses the disc I3 is positioned in the Window-:lamb and set in flush on the face of the upright member of the window-sash 3] is a rack 3l, the teeth of which are engaged by pins 32 that project from the disk lil near its center.

Suitably secured to disc or rotary member I8 is a beveled pinion 33 that is engaged by a beveled gear wheel 3Q, the latter being carried by a shaft 35 that is mounted for rotation in the window frame and the outer end of said shaft carrying a crank 36.

When crank 36 is manipulated to rotate shaft 35 beveled gear wheel 35 transmits rotary motion to the disc i8 through beveled pinion 33 and the pinions 32 engage the teeth of rack bar 3l to raise or lower the sash to which said rack bar is connected, and when movement of the sash ceases the same is automatically locked against further movement by the engagement of the periphery of disc i8 with the housing te.

Obviously, my improved load lock is susceptible of a number of variations, all of which embody the generic principle of automatically and instantly locking the moving member, and in this connection it will be understood that two moving members arranged parallel with each other and mounted to move in opposite directions may be positively locked after movement, but in such construction a rotating element, for instance a pinion or a disc-carrying pin, is utilized for imparting movement to one rack; and driving means, for instance a pinion, is arranged in engagement with the toothed portions o f the two racks. Further, minor changes in the construction may be made whereby two or more racks or members mounted for movement and disposed at right angles to each other, or at angles greater or less than right angles may be instantly, automatically and positively locked when motion to the rotary member ceases.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a device for transmitting power from a rotary member to a traveling or driven member, and for automatically, instantly, and locking the same in any desired or accidental position; and which device is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and positive in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It wil be understood that minor changes in the size, form, and construction of the various parts of my automatic load lock may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a device for actuating rods or the like and for holding same in positionv after movement, a plate provided with an aperture, a shaft passing 'through said aperture, means carried by said shaft for engaging the member to be actuated, a disc carried by said shaft and having a definite axis of rotation, the periphery of which disc is adapted to constantly contact said plate and by automatic pressure at the end of any movement, to instantly lock the actuated member after it has been moved into any desired or accidental position and means for imparting rotary movement to said shaft.

2. In a device for imparting movement to a member and for securing same after movement, a xed member provided with contact bearing points, a disc mounted for rotation on a definite axis within said member with its edge in contact and easily rotatable contact with said bearing points, means carried by said disc for lengaging the member to'be moved and secured after movement.

3. In a device for imparting movement to rods or the like and for automatically locking same after movement, a shaft, a disc carried by said shaft and mounted for rotation on a definite axis, means rigidly associated with said shaft and disc for engaging the member to be moved, and a fixed member contacting said disc, and provided with bearing points with which 'the edge of the disc automatically contacts, rotatably and statically at the end of any rotary movement to automatically lock said disc and the member that is moved thereby, against movement relative to the; fixed member, or vice versa.

4. In a device for imparting movement to rods or the like and for automatically locking same after movement, a shaft, a disc carried by said shaft and mounted for rotation on a definite axis, means rigidly associated with said shaft and disc for engaging the member to be moved, and a fixed member that is adapted to be rotatably and statically contacted by the periphery of said disc and at the end of any rotary movement thereof, to automatically lock said disc and the member that is moved thereby, against movement relative to said fixed member.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a movab-ly mounted member, of a shaft, rotary means carried by said shaft and having a definite axis of rotation for engaging and imparting movement to said movably mounted member, a fixed member, and means carried by said shaft for rotatably and automatically contacting said xed member.

6. The combination with a member mounted for movement, of rotary means having a' definite axis of rotation for imparting movement to said member and which rotary means automatically acts at the termination of any degree of rotary movement imparted thereto to resist movement resulting from strains imparted to said movably mounted member and which tend to move the same.

7. The combination with a movably mounted member, of rotative means for imparting movement thereto, said rotative means having a definite axis of rotation and a fixed member with which said rotative movement imparting means is automatically contacted, at the termination of any rotative movement thereof, and when a load is being carried by the movably mounted member tending to move same.

8. In a device of the class described, a disc mounted to rotate on a definite axis, a plurality of pins projecting from the face of said disc adjacent the center thereof, a rack arranged so that its teeth are engaged by said pins as the disc and pins are rotated and a member surrounding l said disc, which member is adapted to contact the periphery of the disc so as to lock the rack and disc against relative movement.

9. In a device for imparting movement to a member and for automatically securing said member at the termination of the movement imparted thereto, the combination with acasing, of a shaft extending into said casing, a disc carried by said shaft within said casing and having a definite am's of rotation, means carried by said disc for engaging and imparting movement to the member that is to be moved and means on the casing and adapted to be engaged by a portion of the periphery of said disc at the termination of any degree of rotary movement of said disc for securing said disc and the member moved thereby, against movement relative to said casing.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a movably mounted member, of

l a shaft and disk, means carried by said disk and having a definite axis of rotation for engaging and imparting movement to said movably mounted member, a fixed member adjacent the periphery of said disk and adapted to be engaged by said disk with pressure for locking said shaft, and parts carried thereby against movement relative to said flxed member at the termination of any rotary movement of said disk and shaft.

HARRY B. BRYSON. 

